New York City Marathon Paints Tribute to Boston

Yellow line will accompany the traditional blue line for the final 400 meters.

Each year, a blue line guides runners in the New York City Marathon through the five boroughs to the race’s finish in Central Park. This year, a yellow will join it for the final 400 meters in honor of the victims and those affected by the bombings at the Boston Marathon.

As runners round the corner to finish, “they will be greeted by a line of inspiration,” said New York Road Runner CEO Mary Wittenberg in a ceremony this morning at the finish (pictured). “That line will be a line to the future and a line that represents our unity with Boston.”

Yellow and blue—the colors of the Boston Athletic Association—have come to represent “Boston Strong,” the phrase that’s united both the running community and the city of Boston following the April 15 blasts.

Thomas Grilk, executive director of the Boston Athletic Association, was present for the ceremonial painting and talked about the phrase.

“When we talk about ‘Boston Strong,’ what does it mean? Pretty simple, it just means that we, that you, that everybody—don’t quit, don’t give in, and that we, all of us, live our lives the way we choose to live, regardless of what somebody does to try to stop us,” Grilk said. “That won’t happen. That kind of strength will be on display again on Sunday, once again. It’s ‘New York Strong’ and we look forward to being here and seeing it and being part of it.”

The Department of Transporation will begin painting the official lines tonight.